Sprinter Sacre stands out in the crowd

Lunchtime chaos on the roads around Newbury spoke loudly of the appetite to see something for nothing but also testified to a stellar cast of horses. Many racegoers were still queuing for admission when Long Run followed Sprinter Sacre in breaking a track record and easing the worry lines of their trainer, Nicky Henderson.

It might have been the perfect afternoon for Henderson but, after saddling the first two home in each of the grade two chases that launched the card, Darlan fell heavily at the second-last when looking the likeliest winner of the rich Betfair Hurdle.

Tony McCoy, Darlan’s jockey, dragged himself to his feet and emerged later to win the bumper with a demonic ride, but the big prize went instead to Zarkandar.…